[Foundation-l] [Announcement] board expansion

[Jussi-Ville Heiskanen]

On 12/22/07, Florence Devouard <anthere at anthere.org> wrote:
> Dear community
>
> The board recently passed a resolution, which you will find below
>
> In the aftermath of the resignation of Michael Davis (effective october
> 31th, 2007) and Erik Moëller (effective december 15th, 2007), the board
> confirms its will to replace the two former board members, as well as
> its committment to expand the number of members on the board of
> directors at the earliest convenience, up to a number of 11 members
> maximum. Due to its commitment to involve members from the community, at
> least half of the new members will be appointed for a term ending at the
> next board elections, in june 2008.
>
> -----------
>
> Florence

I think I am bound to say, if I understand the import of this resolution
correctly, that this decision is a very poor show indeed.

Am I to really understand that the new seats which are "community
seats" will be initially filled by appointment? That is, not only will Eriks
seat which is temporally vacant because of his resignation be filled
pro tem by appointment, but the board will make a "designated
incumbent" decision on the other new "community seats" too, even
though there is no existing _vacancy_ to those seats.

Some may think that the only problem here is that those people will
merely be "confirmed" by the community, not chosen by it, but that
is hardly the only problem with this fashion of working.

It would not be unreasonable to assume in light of current goings on
that accepting such an appointment would be somewhat akin to
accepting a poisoned chalice, or a kiss of death.

Being appointed by the current board, would mean that it may be
that the vote up or vote down of these new board members would
take some degree of being a vote on the current pre-existing board
and its legitimacy, and not merely on the persons of the appointed
people themselves. That would be a very unfortunate pass to see
ourselves at, and I would like to give the community more credit than
that, but it is not something I find entirely improbable.

--
Jussi-Ville Heiskanen, ~ [[User:Cimon Avaro]]